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====== Manual Chart Install ======

[[opencpn:manual_basic:get_started:chart_install:chartdownloader|Chart Downloader]] is the easier, preferred way to install charts, but at times manual techniques are useful.

For this example, we will use the freely distributed NOAA US charts. [[http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/|NOAA's Chart Download website]] Bring this page up in your browser. On the left, 

Click on Download **ENC**s (electronic navigational charts for Vector Style charts
[[http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/learn_diffRNC_ENC.html| ENC (vs Raster Charts)]]

Download your desired region. For this example, we selected the State of California, CA_ENCs.zip 

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Unzip all those folders (US1EEZ1M, etc...) to a location on your hard drive. For this example we used **My Documents/charts**.

Start OpenCPN, and point it to your chart directory **Settings > Charts > Chart Files > Add Directory** (remember **My Documents** is actually something like **C:\Users\user-name\Documents\Charts**)

Click **Select Folder**

Tick boxes "**Scan Charts and Update Database**" and "**Force Full Database Rebuild**"

{{opencpn:manual:chartman_2.png?nolink&450}}

Fix up a few of your Chart settings, mine are below, more info [[opencpn:opencpn_user_manual:charts:vector_display_tab|Vector Display Tab]]

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​Check your new ENC charts into the Chart Downloader to stay current with Chart Updates, more info  [[opencpn:opencpn_user_manual:charts:chart_downloader_tab|Chart Downloader Tab]]

Go to **Settings > Charts > Chart Downloader**  Click **Add** and navigate to the section that you downloaded. For example it is **USA > ENC > by States > CA - California**

{{opencpn:manual:chartman_4.png?nolink&450}}

You should also hit the **Select Folder** button and navigate to where you put your ENC charts. Once you hit **OK** on that window, a list of all your charts should populate in the bottom half of the window.
 
{{opencpn:manual:chartman_5.png?nolink&450}}

Click **Update All**, and your charts will update, and continue to update.
that's it!

==== Important next step ====

  * [[:opencpn:manual_basic:get_started:gps|GPS Setup]]
